crinoline stretcher: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very RareHumorous, Archaic, Informal
Quick answer
What does “crinoline stretcher” mean?
An exaggerated or fabricated story, excuse, or alibi.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An exaggerated or fabricated story, excuse, or alibi.
A far-fetched tale used to excuse lateness or absence; a humorous term for a lie.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is marginally more documented in British historical/anecdotal sources, though it is obsolete in both dialects.
Connotations
Whimsical, old-fashioned, gently mocking.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both; primarily found in historical texts or as a deliberate archaism.
Grammar
How to Use “crinoline stretcher” in a Sentence
[Subject] told/offered a crinoline stretcher [about X][It] was a crinoline stretcherVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crinoline stretcher” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's crinoline-stretchering again about the train cancellations.
American English
- She crinoline-stretched her way out of the meeting.
adverb
British English
- He explained crinoline-stretcheringly that his dog ate the report.
American English
- She arrived, apologising crinoline-stretcheringly for her delay.
adjective
British English
- He gave a crinoline-stretcher excuse.
American English
- That's a crinoline-stretcher story if I ever heard one.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or cultural studies discussing Victorian slang.
Everyday
Obsolete. Might be used humorously by someone affecting an antiquated style.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crinoline stretcher”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crinoline stretcher”
- Using it in modern serious contexts.
- Misspelling as 'crinoline stretch' or 'crinolin stretcher'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it was a humorous fictional item, hence its use to mean a fake story.
It would be considered very archaic and humorous. It's more of a historical curiosity than active vocabulary.
It originates from the mid-19th century, the peak of the crinoline fashion.
It is a fixed phrase, typically written as two separate words: 'crinoline stretcher'.
An exaggerated or fabricated story, excuse, or alibi.
Crinoline stretcher is usually humorous, archaic, informal in register.
Crinoline stretcher: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrɪn.əl.ɪn ˈstrɛtʃ.ə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkrɪn.əl.ɪn ˈstrɛtʃ.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To spin a crinoline stretcher”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a Victorian lady saying she was late because she needed a special machine to stretch her giant dress through a doorway—a perfectly ridiculous "crinoline stretcher" story.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN IMPROBABLE EXCUSE IS AN IMPOSSIBLE TOOL (for an outdated fashion).
Practice
Quiz
What is the core meaning of 'crinoline stretcher'?